Last month we went on a family trip to Universal Studios Hollywood. Crazy enough, neither Christian or I had ever been even though we grew up in Southern California. Leading up to the trip I asked for tips from friends on Facebook and got tons of comments about how it was great but mostly for older kids. That sent me into a tailspin of research, which honestly I recommend you do before any big trip, including amusement parks. I found blog posts and Youtube videos all about the park which was helpful because it gave me a feel for what we would be experiencing and the videos I showed my kids got them super hyped for going to this new place! I am pleased to report that the whole family had a blast and honestly there were even things we weren’t able to get to because we were having so much fun. Hopefully we can get back again soon but until them let me share with you my tips for enjoying Universal Studios Hollywood with your preschool aged kiddos.
* Thanks to Universal Studios Hollywood hosting us. All opinions shared are my own. To read more about my sponsorship and disclosure policy click here.
The “Backlot Vibe”
Upon entering the park you feel like you’ve been transported onto a movie set. Only having been in the park for a few minutes we walked past a clump of building that looked like New York City with actors hanging out of the windows in character as tenants talking to people on the street. One of them asked where they could get a baby as cute as Teddy and the kids thought it was hilarious! This backlot feel is fun for kids because it feels larger than life, but also really cool for adults too because we can grasp the reality of these being the same things that might be used for our favorite films or tv shows. These areas are fun to wander through and a TON of pretty photo spot opportunities. We turned the corner past the New York area to find ourselves is a European paradise complete with the Moulin Rouge windmill. Elouise talks about going to Paris all the time so this was extra fun for her. Mixed in these areas are character meet and greets with some familiar faces from what are probably some of your kiddos favorite movies and shows. We saw King Julian and Alex the lion from Madagascar, Princess Poppy from Trolls, and Spongebob Squarepants. I also saw Dracula and Beetlejuice but obviously they aren’t quite preschooler friendly. I will say that the lines to meet the characters were way shorter than some other parks we’ve been to so that was a plus! Also, there is a huge water feature/fountain thing in near the front section where you can cool off if you find yourself there on a particularly hot day.
All of the Despicable Me fun!
This area was definitely something my kids were SO excited for. Like I mentioned before we watched some Youtube videos and they saw that there was a water play area so that’s all they talked about for a while leading up to our trip. My kiddos love all three of the Despicable Me movies, in fact they are some of the only movies that we keep in our car, so getting to see it all in person was so fun for them. They did such a fantastic job bringing the films to life recreating Super Silly Fun Land (the amusement park from the first movie) complete with a boardwalk with carnival games and preschool friendly ride called the Silly Swirly Fun Ride. The kids love water play areas except for after when they are all wet and cold and have to be changed (see the next photo where I made them smile all soaking wet, #momfail). If you area planning on letting your kids play in the water play area you should bring a bathing suit, towel, and (I cannot stress this enough because we didn’t know this part), SHOES. You kids must be wearing shoes inside the water play area, so if they have sandals on then you’re set, but if you put them in a practical pair of tennis shoes with socks you’re going to be buying a pair of shoes at the gift shop. Check out these adorable Minion water shoes though! I’ll be honest I was terrified walking into the store imagining the hefty price tag but they were pretty reasonable considering they were amusement park prices! They also have anything else you might need for water play like sunscreen, towels, bathing suits, sunglasses, and a whole bunch of cute merch and memorabilia. Don’t worry though, if you end up buying a whole new wardrobe there are lockers and changing rooms inside the water play area.
Right outside the gates of Super Silly Fun land is a fun Despicable Me themed restaurant (that was sadly closed the day we went) and a replica of Miss Hatties Home for Girls where you can meet Gru, the three girls (Agnes, Edith, and Margo), or even the minions. Right past that is Gru’s house and the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride. There is a height limit for this but it is totally preschooler friendly. I didn’t end up getting to go on with Christian and Elouise but they loved it. It’s a motion simulated ride where sit and it makes you feel like you’re on an actual ride with a 3-D show. Lot’s of silliness!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS. Was that a little too aggressive? In all seriousness, Christian and I have been dying to have a chance to see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for years now. When I kinda planned out our day I saved this for last because I thought this area of the park would be more for me and Christian and didn’t expect the kids to really enjoy it. Boy was I wrong! I think the kids loved this just as much as we did, it was so fun for them and totally appropriate for preschool aged kiddos. While they may not be able to ride the two rides in the area (you need to find a way to ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey though because it is one of the best rides I have EVER been on) there is SO much to do. There are several stores and shops to walkthrough that are all in theme of Harry Potter and make you feel you you’re in their world and not just at a theme park gift shop. Obviously you have to try the Butterbeer, even my kids loved it! They even have some shows like the Frog Choir and the Triwizard Spirit Rally. My mom stayed with the kiddos while we went on the Forbidden Journey ride and when I came out they were watching the Triwizard Spirit Rally and my kids were enthralled. Absolutely every inch of them was still as they watched the different wizards perform tumbling and acrobatics and all sorts of cool flips and stunts. After both kids wanted to meet them and it was just pure magic!
Maybe one of the most fun parts was the Wand Magic. While neither of the kids have seen any of the movies, they both knew exactly what a wand was and what it should do. We spent a while in Olivanders wand shop and Christian picked out his wand. Then we go to walk around the area and use the wand at designated spots to make magic happen. Instruments played music, doors made knocking sounds, and all sorts of fun that felt 100% real to the kids. I honestly wish we had more time to spend in this area, there were so many nooks and crannies to explore and the kids were really enjoying their time!
On our way out we noticed that the Dream Works Theater Featuring Kung Fu Panda had one more showing so we swooped right in. It is a multi sensory attraction that has 360 surround sound and visual sweeping effects in combination with the movement of the theater seats makes you feel like you’re part of the adventure. Both Sully and Elouise loved it, neither of them were scared even though I wondered if the seats would be too much for them. They even asked if we could go again as we walked out.
And now, a couple of weeks after our trip they still ask when we’re going back to “Versal Studio” because they had SO much fun. There were a few things that we didn’t even get to do that I had wanted to fit in, like the Universal’s Animal Actors show, the Simpsons area (have you seen the giant pink donut??), or the WaterWorld show (best for older preschoolers or little ones who can handle some action). I hope we get the chance to go back soon because we all had so much fun, plus I hear they are opening some Jurassic World features this summer and my boy loves all things dinosaur!
